Automatic lighting system



Aug. 5, 1941.

c. P. BEARDSLEE ETAL 2,251,700

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CZ P. ,BeaI ds'Ze e eZKZyZa e79 JNVENTORQS'.

A TTORNEYS.

1941. c. P. BEARDSLEE ETAL 2,251,700

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1939 Ciflfiear dalee elfifLjfialjemm Ezvrom ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 5, 1941 AUTQMATEC LIGH'EKNG SYSTEM Charles P. Beardslee and J Kenyon Lybarger, Anaheim, Calif.

Appiicaticn October 4, 1939, Serial No. 297,936

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an automatic. lighting system designed primarily for use in a garage or in a driveway, one of the objects being to provide a system which includes means, actuated by a vehicle, for closing a circuit to a lamp or for breaking the circuit, as preferred, there being supplemental means used when the circuit is closed by the vehicle, for maintaining said circuit in that condition for a predetermined period of time after which the circuit will be automatically broken.

A further object is to provide apparatus of this character which can be installed readily, is simple in construction, and will not easily get out of order.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

Figure l is a section taken vertically through the switch box and through portions of the switch mechanism.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the vchicle-operated means i or shifting the switch.

Figure 3 is a section on line t3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4--4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section through the dash-pot forming a part of the apparatus.

Figure '7 is a section on line 1-1, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section on line 83, Figure 6.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates an elongated frame proportioned to extend across the driveway. This frame can be formed in one piece or can be built up of wood or metal and it is provided, at its top, with oppositely extending longitudinal flanges or top plates 2 adapted to lie substantially flush with the surface of the road. These flanges can of course be dispensed with under some conditions if desired.

The frame is provided, at its ends, with bearings 3 in which is journalled rock shaft 4 having a longitudinal tripping blade 5 extending upwardly therefrom, this blade being provided with one or more stop screws 6 or the like whereby movement of the blade in one direction will be limited. One or more springs 1 can be interposed between the blade and one of the walls of the frame for the purpose of holding the blade 5 in its normal position.

A tubular housing 8 connects one of the bearings 3 with a casing 9 located at one side of the driveway or at any other point found most convenient. Mounted for rotation in the tubular housing 8 and extending into the casing 9 is a shaft Ill which is coupled to one end of the stem 4. This shaft H] can be rigid or flexible as preferred and has an end extending into casing 9 where it is attached to a crank arm i l.

Extending from casing 53 is a tubular housing l2 which serves to couple said casing to the box !3 containing the switch structure. This box can be located inside of a garage or at any other point found most convenient.

A bracket M is fixedly mounted in the box I3 and supports a switch lever l5 which is fulcrumed between its ends as shown at [6. One end of this lever has a depending yoke l1 pivotally connected thereto and joined by a rod I8 to the crank arm II, this rod being mounted to reciprocate within the tubular housing 12. The rod can be rigid or flexible as may be most convenient.

That end of the lever [5 remote from yoke IT has a piston rod I9 pivotally connected thereto and joined to a piston 20 mounted for reciprocation within a cylinder 2 I located in the box I3. This piston and its cylinder cooperates to form a dash-pot, the piston being suitably valved and vented so that it can move freely in one direction when pulled by the lever l5 but will be retarded in its movement in the opposite direction.

A mercury switch 22 is carried by one arm of the lever and when the lever is tilted in one direction, this mercury switch serves to close a circuit through leads 23 to one or more lamps located in a garage, in a driveway, or at any other point desired.

Under normal conditions and when the blade 55 is extended upwardly from the frame I, the lever I5 is held at such an angle that the circuit through the leads 23 will be broken at the mercury switch 22 and the piston of the dashpot will be in its lowered position.

If the piston is adapted to cause the lamp or lamps to be lighted when a vehicle approaches a garage in which they are located, the blade 5 and its frame 6 will be so arranged that said blade will be thrust against the action of spring I by the vehicle as it approaches the garage. This movement of the blade will result in partial rotation of shaft 4 and actuation of crank arm I l.

Consequently rod I 8 will pull on lever l5 and cause the circuit to be closed between the leads 23 while at the same time the piston of the dash-pot will be pulled upwardly. Springs 7 are of such strength as to pull all parts of the apparatus back to their normal positions but after these springs have been compressed as explained, they will be gradually released due to the restraining action of the dash-pot. Consequently the circuit between the leads will be maintained closed for a predetermined period of time and until. said circuit is broken by restoration of lever I5 to its normal position and return of the mercury switch to its normal position.

Actuation of the movable parts in box 13 can be facilitated by providing lever l5 with a counterbalance 24 or, if desired, this counterbalance can obviate the necessity of using the springs 7.

Obviously when a vehicle passes over blade 5 so as to trust thereagainst toward the left in Figure 3, said blade will not be shifted out of normal position because of the stops 6.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a lighting circuit ineluding a normally open switch, of means under the control of a vehicle, when moving in one direction only, for actuating the switch to close the circuit. said means including an open frame adapted to be positioned transversely of and substantially flush with the surface of a driveway, a shaft journalled in the frame and extending longitudinally thereof, means operated by the shaft when turned in one direction, for shifting the switch to close the circuit, a blade extending longitudinally of the shaft and projecting upwardly above the frame, yielding means within the frame and cooperating with the blade to hold the blade normally in upwardly extended position, said blade being located for engagement by the wheels of a vehicle when moving in one direction, thereby to be shifted from normal position and against the action of the yielding means, and means in the frame cooperating with the blade for holding said blade against movement out of normal position under the action of the wheels of a vehicle moving in the opposite direction.

CHARLES P. BEARDSLEE. J KENYON LYBARGER. 

